Blog Archive

Penguins/Blackhawks battle for opening face-off of the 2nd period this afternoon. Photo credit: Michelle T (@adikted).

After going win-less in the rookie tournament last year in London, the Penguins have started this year's camp 2-0 including a 5-4 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks this afternoon.

The overtime provided teams and fans alike a chance to get a first look at the new overtime rules that the American Hockey League (AHL) will implement in the 2014-15 season. The teams skated four-on-four for the first three minutes before the final four minutes were played 3-on-3.

There wasn't any scoring in the overtime, but J-S Dea and Tom Kuhnhackl scored for the Penguins in the shootout, with Kuhnhackl's bar down snipe in the 4th round sealing the deal for the Pens.

The Penguins finish the 2014 Rookie Tournament with a 2 p.m. ET face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday afternoon.QUICK RECAP

Jean-Sebastien Dea continued his dominance at this year's rookie tournament halfway through the first period. With the Penguins on the power play - their first of the contest - Conor Sheary got a puck through traffic to Dea and he beat Blackhawks' goaltender Ken Appleby to put the Penguins in front 1-0 at the 10:31 mark. Tom Kuhnhackl also picked up an assist on the power play goal as well.

The Penguins came out for the middle frame with a jump in their step. Clark Seymour took an errant high stick 1:07 into the period and gave the Penguins their 2nd power play of the game. They converted. Anton Zlobin's high hard shot blooped up in the air and somehow got past Appleby to make it a 2-0 Penguins lead 2:32 into the period. Assists were given to J-S Dea and Brian Dumoulin on the Pens' 2nd power play goal of the afternoon.

Shots: 7-5 Penguins in the first period.

The Penguins were able to use their speed to cause problems for Chicago, who spent most of the first half of the period on the penalty kill. It wasn't until the 9:28 mark of the period, after a Reid McNeill highsticking minor, that the Blackhawks got their first power play.

It was the Penguins getting into penalty trouble in the second half of the period, and the Blackhawks cut the Pens' lead in half on a power play goal after a give and go from Garret Ross and Brett Welychka.

From there the flood gates opened. Matia Marcantuoni found a rebound of an Adam Payerl shot and put a backhander to the top shelf to extend the Penguins lead to 3-1 with 4:05 left in the middle period.

On the next shift, Josh Archibald took a pass from Oskar Sundqvist and scored a beauty of a goal (for the second straight afternoon) to put the Penguins up 4-1 just 35 seconds later. Tom Kuhnhackl picked up his second assist of the afternoon on Archibald's 2nd goal of the tournament.

The Blackhawks bounced right back, scoring two goals of their own 66 seconds apart, with Dennis Rasmussen and Phillip Danault tallying goals to bring the Blackhawks back within one at 4-3.

Shots: 17-11 in favor of Chicago in the 2nd period. 22-18 Chicago for the game through 40 minutes.

The penalties continued for the Pens in the third period, with Scott Harrington taking a minor in the first minute and Clark Seymour sitting for two minutes shortly after. Luckily for the Pens, they killed off the first one and the second one was wiped out by a Blackhawks minor penalty.

The Blackhawks held the edge in the first half of the 3rd, out shooting the Penguins 8-0 in the first 11 and a half minutes before the Pens were credited with their first shot of the period.

The Pens clung to the one-goal lead to the final two minutes, but a Harrison Ruopp penalty with 1:50 left gave the Blackhawks one last chance. With 1.5 seconds left in regulation, Matt Carey put a rebound past Tristan Jarry to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Shots: 14-3 in favor of Chicago in the 3rd period. 36-21 Chicago for the game through regulation.

With the overtime, we got a look at the new OT rules that will be implemented in the AHL this season. They started the OT 4-on-4, but as per the new rules the game switched to 3-on-3 after the first stoppage of play after the first three minutes. No one scored in OT, so it was off to a three-round shootout.

J-S Dea continued to impress today, opening the scoring and adding an assist on the Pens' 2nd goal as well. He now has two goals and three assists through two games at this year's rookie tournament.

Josh Archibald showed some blazing speed again today and scored another nice goal this afternoon. Between Dea, Zlobin and Archibald the forwards have excelled in the first two games of the rookie tournament.

Oskar Sundqvist quietly had a strong game, adding another assist today for two points in two games so far this weekend. Sundqvist also displayed good work on the penalty kill today.

Conor Sheary is another small forward looking to make a big impression. When I spoke with Sheary at development camp in July, he was quick to point out he was only on an AHL contract and not on an NHL deal. He's definitely looking good this weekend.

Dominik Uher had an active game today, doing what he does best - playing sound defensive hockey in his own zone blocking shots and breaking up passes but also being strong in on the forecheck as well. Phil Bourque said it best during today's broadcast when he said that Uher doesn't do anything spectacular in a certain area, but does a lot of things very well.

I haven't heard too much about Scott Harrington, and that's a good thing with the way he plays the game. Harrington isn't a flashy player, but plays solid defense and can join the rush and not look out of place. Harrington and Brian Dumoulin are the top prospects playing for the Pens this weekend.

ROSTER NOTES

With Matt Murray getting the start yesterday (22 saves on 25 shots), the Penguins went with Tristan Jarry (36 saves on 40 shots) in net this afternoon against Chicago.

Two other lineup changes as the two guys who sat out yesterday - forward Christophe Lalancette and defenseman Clark Seymour - were inserted into the lineup for Patrick McGrath and Alex Boak, respectively.